A Review of "The Extruder Video" by Daryl Baird

A while back I was lucky enough to acquire the 2 disc DVD "The Extruder Video" by Daryl Baird and produced by Ceramic Arts Daily.  Took me a little while to be able to watch it as I had to get my computer set up and fixed to watch the DVDs.  Could have used my hubby's PS3... but I can never remember which setting the tv has to be on to use the PS3 to watch DVDs.  Regardless, I was able to watch both DVDs and am sooo very glad I did!  I had paper and pen out ready to take notes.  But I didn't need to!  Daryl walks you through from the VERY BEGINNING in clear, easy to remember steps and speaks like he's speaking to you in a workshop setting and NOT in front of the camera.  Which the dialogue was quite refreshing.  It may be the manner in which he spoke was the reason why I didn't need to take notes!  Every step of the process was easy to remember and I know I can go back and review items if I need to.  So time for the break down of the DVDs. :)

When you get the DVDs, it looks like this (well, covered with plastic..but I took that off.)

 And inside of the 2 disc set.  They weren't numbered, just a list of segments on the DVDs themselves.  So to remind myself, I went ahead and took my permanent marker and labeled them 1 and 2.

One thing I REALLY appreciated, is that Daryl takes you step by step on how to install your extruder fresh out of the box!  Finding the stud, how to install it so that the attachment is sound and won't fall off your wall, setting up your work/staging area, and even some tips on proper body mechanics.  For the complete clay extruding newbie this information is invaluable!!  He also talks about the proper clay condition and how firm/soft you should be working.  Wish I would have watched this before I got and used my extruder 2 years ago!  I have one from TA Metalworks out of Canada, so it's set up a tad different than the NorthStar extruder used by Daryl in the video.  But I've definitely created more ware and tear on my personal extruder as a result of using clay that was too firm to be put through the extruder.
Daryl goes on to explain the anatomy and general construction of hollow dies, how to appropriately handle the hollow extrusion to prevent warping, and then he walks you through some different projects.  Yet again, Daryl proves why the clay community as a whole is awesome!  He shows you several different projects to do and encourages you to make them for yourself, and add your own spin on them.  One such project is his iconic mountain top boxes.

Disc 2 - Tips and tricks on how to make your own custom dies with a variety of materials.  Plywood, metal, plastic, and yes...even credit cards!  The credit card dies were my favorite section as that's something anyone can do without any special tools.  Granted, you can't make a hollow extrusion die out of the credit cards because they don't have enough strength to handle all the stress placed on it during the extruding process.  But that's okay.  I haven't created one yet..but that is definitely on the to-do list!

All in all...I would HIGHLY recommend this set of DVDs to anyone.  From the very beginner who is thinking of acquiring an extruder to the seasoned extruder professional.  Daryl imparts great tips and tricks from beginning to end.  I truly felt like I was participating in a 1:1 workshop with him rather than watching DVDs on my computer.  And NO, I was not paid nor was I asked to write this review.  Just wanted to impart my opinions and personal experiences with this product to the interwebs.

For the clay enthusiast who works with extruding and slab building, there's even a Facebook group for us all to be groupies of!  You can find it here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/clayextruding/

'Til Next Time! 

Use of Ferric Chloride - Safety Precautions

Good day one and all!  As I've mentioned in previous blog posts, I am a member of the Facebook group, Clay Buddies.  One of the things that I really love and appreciate about this group is the imparting of knowledge from those who have been around the block a time or two, and helping to educate us newbies.  Recently, Dave H., made such a post.  I think it is important to make sure people have access to this knowledge and asked if I could share on my blog for all the interwebs to find.  Here was his post (re-posted with permission).

Photo by Mark McMillan, from the Ceramic Arts Daily Member Gallery

"Concerns about ferric chloride come up enough times that I'm going to jump into this discussion as a former environmental chemist, with a number of years in the health and safety field.
Ferric chloride is used primarily in two different ways in raku. A solution of ferric chloride is sprayed on a hot pot to color the pot, as in ferric chloride fuming of horsehair raku pots. It (a solution) is also painted on bisque pots in the aluminum foil saggar process.
In terms of the toxicity I am going to focus on inhalation hazards, because it is doubtful that you will ingest it. And dermal toxicity is not as much a concern as inhalation toxicity (that is why you wear protective clothing and gloves).
Ferric chloride solutions are acidic. So when you directly inhale a sprayed solution of ferric chloride, the acid irritates and burns your tissues. This is why you start coughing and feel a burning sensation and your eyes sting.
When ferric chloride is heated above 500 degrees Fahrenheit, it decomposes to form hydrochloric acid and/or chlorine gas. If you are doing horsehair or a similar process, the pot is over 500 degrees F, so the fumes you inhale contain toxic hydrogen chloride (acidic) and toxic chlorine gas. In aluminum foil saggar, the temperatures in the kiln are well over 500 degrees F (1000 to 1300), so toxic fumes of hydrogen chloride and chlorine well be given off. This is why they don't recommend doing aluminum foil saggar in electric kilns, the elements and metal parts of the kiln get corroded.
So, HOW TO BE SAFE HANDLING FERRIC CHLORIDE? Don't get it on your skin - wear appropriate clothing and gloves. Wear an APPROPRIATE respirator. A paint mask will NOT protect you from fumes of hydrogen chloride and chlorine. You need a respirator with a cartridge good for particulates and acid gases (chlorine and hydrogen chloride). A particulate cartridge alone will not protect you. You can buy combo cartridges that are good for particulates, organic vapors, and acid gases. Make sure there are no spectators nearby or downwind when you spray.
Having said that, I know MANY potters who do not use respirators when working with ferric chloride. If you watch them you will notice that they always stand upwind when spraying, or use a spray booth. Brushing the ferric chloride solution on pots is not an inhalation problem, there are no fumes/mists/small droplets.
Do I follow my own advice? Most times, but I have to admit that sometimes I make a last minute decision to spray a pot with ferric chloride and don't run get my respirator with the appropriate cartridge. I try to be upwind when I spray and make sure that nobody else is around me. I'll still manage to inhale some and cough a little."

 There were several comments, and some that stood out were by other potters who I highly respect for not only their knowledge but their willingness to share it!  William S. had this to say in response:

" I taught rake processes for years and one thing I always stressed about using ferric chloride was the need for common sense use. During any spraying process, most students did not have the proper respirator cartridges so I had a turntable set up away from the firing area, a small flag to indicate wind direction and a commercial grade portable fan blowing from behind and slightly to one side of the person spraying. FYI - if one uses a metal turntable, place a broken kiln shelf on top to protect the metal from the acidic action of the ferric chloride."

THANK YOU GENTLEMEN for you willingness to help educate those of us less knowledgeable!

As with anything, especially in ceramics, while the hazards may be scary or turn us away from possibly trying certain techniques; so long as proper safety protocols are followed and appropriate PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) is used, this technique can be executed safely.  Remember to follow all safety guidelines and procedures, whether you agree with them or not.  They are there for our safety.  Another clay buddy, Harriet H., said it best:

"As we age, the damage to our bodies accumulates over time and takes a toll on our health. There are environmental factors such as pollution that we don't take into account and the effects are not felt until years down the road even if we only take occasional risks. If you don't take precautions for yourself, think of your loved ones and do it for them."

 I've included links to all applicable MSDS forms. Just click on the highlighted words to go view them.  Or you can follow the links below:

FERRIC CHLORIDE MSDS
HYDROCHLORIC ACID MSDS
CHLORINE GAS MSDS

For more information on the techniques that use these chemicals, follow the links below.
Horse Hair Raku (Loveless Pottery has a GREAT post about the technique and if it's right for you)
Saggar Firing (Ceramic Arts Daily posted a very informative article on this, featuring the methods of Charlie and Linda Riggs)

How To - Experimenting with Decals

Ceramic Decals... for the first few years I was learning about my craft/art (ceramics)...I had my head set on being a "purist".  No decals, no alternative firing or finishing techniques...everything would be stoneware and glazes.  That's it.  Well, as I've evolved as an artist and learned more...I've come to realize that there's nothing wrong with using tools of the trade, as well as alternative finishing techniques.  At least for me since my items are sculptural and very rarely do I make functional ware anymore.  It's just not my passion...sculpting is.  Where this has led...is me acquiring lots of different ceramic decals for a sculpture idea I had (as well as some limited edition ceramic ornaments!...stay tuned for those..).  But I wanted to still be able to fire my ceramics to their maturity temperature of ^6 (cone 6, which is roughly 2200*F).  But all the literature I'd read on ceramic decals said that they had to be applied on already glazed/finished ware, and fired to a much lower temperature.  So I took this as a challenge.  I searched for an additive I could add to either the greenware piece of pottery in an effort to raise the maturing temperature of the colorants used on the decals.  I discovered that silica is a product used to raise the melting temperature in certain glazes.  Luckily, I had some on hand...so experimenting I went!  These are my results of my first tests.

Tutorial Time - Making Copper Wire Ornament Hangers

Been a while since I've written a tutorial..so this is LONG OVER DUE!  I was looking for an alternative to the plain ole ribbon or hemp I was using to string up my ceramic ornaments.  So I started playing around with some 18g copper wire I had laying around and VOILA!  I think the end result turned out rather nicely. This tutorial will be VERY photo centric with captions.   ENJOY

Materials: 18g copper wire, ruler, round nose pliers, flat needle nose pliers, wire cutters, and an object to wrap the wire around.  I used a pottery tool I had available to get the right size I wanted for the hanger.

 

STEP 1 (not pictured) - Cut the wire into approximately 6" lengths.  This size worked well for my purposes.  Adjust the length based on your needs and trial and error.

STEP 2 - Ensure the end of the wire is flush cut, not beveled.  Grasp the end of the wire at the very tip of the round nose pliers and make a small loop.  To get a nice even loop, grasp the wire at the very end (so it's not hanging over the top of the pliers.)  Rotate your hand/wrist towards you a quarter of a turn, release the wire being careful not to move the position on the shaft of the pliers, rotate the pliers back towards the wire, grasp again and rotate towards you another quarter turn.  Repeat this process until the end of the wire meets the tail.

STEP 3 - Grab the tool you will be using to make the hanging portion of your ornament hanger.  In my case, I used a tool often used to hollow out solid lumps of clay.  Hold the end of the wire against the tool with the edge of the loop you just made facing the tool.  Wrap the wire around the object until you have about a finger's width of space left between the tail of the wire and where the loop is.  When you pull the tool out of the wire loop, it will widen the larger loop you just made, which makes it "just right" for what we're going for.

STEP 4 - Grasp the tail of the wire in your fingers approximately parallel with where the smaller loop is now positioned.  Gently bend the wire down so that it makes a sharp bend in the wire.  It should look like a question mark at this point.

STEP 5 - I used my thumb to gauge this next distance.  Place your thumb at the edge of the bend you just made.  On the opposite end of your thumb, grasp the wire with your round nose pliers at the largest part of the pliers.  Bend the wire around until it makes a full "U", or so that the two ends of the wire are now parallel to one another.

STEP 6 - Grasp the end of the wire you just bent up with the flat needle nose pliers slightly above the round needle nose pliers and bend the wire back down.  In the pictures, I had grabbed the wire right above the pliers but ended up needing a tad more space.

STEP 7 - Now that the wire is bent on top of itself, use the flat nose pliers to tighten up the bend and flatten it out.  In the images the wire is on top of itself.  In subsequent renditions, I rotated the wire so the bend ends up being side by side.  It makes the spiral we make later on sit more flat on ornament hanger.

STEP 8 - Now grasp the end of the tale of the wire.  Remember that loop we made at the beginning?  Do it again. :)  Then we're just going to keep on winding until we make a spiral.  Once you've made the small loop, use your finger to guide the wire as you wrap.  Once you get 1.5 loops, you will need to grasp the wire with the flat needle nose pliers to keep wrapping (continue guiding the wire with your finger).

 

 

STEP 9 - Once you spiral the wire all the way up to the bend, it gets a tad tricky.  You want to continue the spiral, but putting the spiral over this bend.  The spiral hides the bend in the wire and adds just that little extra "something" when you put the ornament on.  Once you get the spiral over this bend in the wire, use the flat needle nose pliers to compress everything.  It makes it nice and tight and pretty.  It also hides the pierced hole in the ornament.  Win-Win

 

 

 

 

STEP 10 - String on your ornament!  

 

BONUS - For a little extra flair, I added a cute reindeer charm to this Santa Boot ornament.  Take your flat nose pliers and turn the small loop at the top perpendicular to the rest of the hanger.  Gently open it up and slide on your charm.

Want one of these?  I have 10 available in my Etsy Shop. :)

 

It will take some time and fidgeting to the spiral to look the way you want.  With subsequent ornament hangers, I was able to get the spiral to completely hide the pierced hole in the ornament.  Just takes a little bit of fiddling with the wire spiral, and how much wire you actually need for that *U* where the ornament sits.

Have fun!  Let me know how yours turn out in the comments below!  Looking forward to seeing your own renditions of this simple ornament hanger. :)

My Ceramic Family

Hey there!  Remember me???  The author of this blog??  Thank you for hanging in there and sticking with me!  And now... on to today's post.

I am a member of several ceramics groups on Facebook.  I LOVE the camaraderie and the friendships established in these online forums.  By and large, the ceramics community as a whole contain some of the most giving and kind hearted people I've met (physically and virtually).  Always more than happy to share their tips and tricks of the trade, technical knowledge, and even answer the questions you never knew you had when it comes to the business of pottery.  In one of these groups, another pottery commented about a poor experience he had with a fellow ceramicist when he stopped by their studio/workshop.  The conveyed experience struck a cord with me, reminding me of an experience I had as a very new potter myself. 

My husband and I were driving back to my parents house in Virginia after an appointment with a neurologist.  We were supposed to visit Luray Caverns, but I was not feeling up to it and was upset because my health would not allow us to enjoy this excursion we had planned after my appointment.  Well, my hubby being the awesome man that is, saw a sign for pottery, turned around, and took me to the studio.  Mind you, pottery/ceramics is NOT his thing.. but he indulges and supports me in all my endeavors...he even listens when I start talking "geek speak" clay style.  The owner, who was also the potter, and I bonded over our mutual service in the military.  The items on the shelves were gorgeous, and we were looking for something to take home to remember our time in Virginia.  I don't remember exactly how it came about, but I mentioned I was a novice potter just learning the ropes.  I think I may have asked him if he used commercial glazes or made his own, because the colors were gorgeous.  I was accused of trying to steal ideas, and I would garner no respect in the industry as a thief, and was all but kicked out of the studio!  I was flabbergasted!!!  What had I done wrong?  Did I offend him somehow?  Are those taboo questions?  I was clueless, no idea.  I was after all, a NOVICE.  Rather than taking the time to even tell me what it was I'd done wrong, we were kicked out of his studio, Mill Creek Pottery.  From what I've read, they may do a lot for the community hosting fundraisers and such, and the general public like them.  But when you are that RUDE to not only a fellow veteran, but a member of the same craft, there is no professionalism there. 

Thankfully, I have not let this singular experience jade my views on ceramics as a whole.  Know what the funny part is?  I don't even throw on the wheel anymore due to health issues, and am transitioning to sculpture!  No where close to being his "competition".  To me, the ceramics community is like an extended family; much the same as my fellow active duty service members and veterans are my brothers and sisters.  If you don't want to answer my questions, or your glaze recipe is one you've honed for the last 4 years and don't want to share it, that's fine!  I promise, I won't take offense!  Just ask Jon Puzzuoli (I LOVE his blue and white whirlpool glaze.. but that's a closely guarded secret as that's one of his signature lines....and ya know what?  THAT'S OKAY!)  But he wasn't an asshole when telling me.  I've met so many wonderful artists, both potters in the traditional sense of wheel thrown functional ware, as well as sculptors... that may be a post in and of itself... bringing all these amazing people to your computer screen... :-D

Anyway, the point of all this... is that there are bad apples in every family.  But I am sooo very glad that I did not let this man ruin my views of the ceramics community as a whole because 99% of m are pretty awesome!

A New Line...

The last several months have been a rough transition period to say the least.  In my decision to pare down what I make in an effort to be able to focus on honing and building my sculpture skills, to say that  my sales have been hit would be an understatement.  ha  But in this transition, not only have I decided to focus on my sculpting, but I've also chosen to work on and build on my ceramic jewelry offerings.

Lady Liberty

There are days when the creative "mojo" seems to flow from my mind/heart effortlessly.  Then there are other days where I get stuck, can't decide where to go next.  The latter happened on a sculpture I just recently finished.  I refer to it/her as Lady Liberty, because I haven't nailed down a title worthy of the piece.  I started this sculpture way back in September of 2013...Got the head done, and then wrapped her up.  To be finished about a week ago.  I wasn't sure what I wanted her to say.  I had a general idea, but not specifics.  So she sat....and sat....and sat.  Until inspiration re-struck.  She says what my words cannot.  What MANY of my brothers and sisters in arms are unable to say.  Her tears are those for all Soldiers and their loved ones.  She is slowly drowning in the tears she sheds for her country.  I don't want to say too much, as I plan on unveiling the finished sculpture at the Freedom Fest Concert in Fort Kent, Maine, on August 9, 2014.  But I did want to give you all a sneak peak.   So keep scrolling, and follow my "in progress" pictures of how she has evolved.  Would love to hear your thoughts!

Studio Fruit Basket Upset

Yes, you read that right...a fruit basket upset.  It's a term I grew up hearing from my mother.  Anytime the furniture in a room got rearranged, it was a "fruit basket upset".  I've been making due with my old studio set up because I thought we would be moving this summer and didn't want to do the extra work.  The way life has it, we will be staying in our current location for another year, so I decided to better my studio.  It was functional before...but as my sales increased and the business grew...and my health deteriorated, I can no longer throw. 99% of my work is now handbuilt from slabs of clay.  So the wheel (sadly) has just been collecting dust, and the studio was getting cluttered.  It took me 4 days..but I finally have it done...and I love it!  SO much more user friendly!  Here is what it used to look like:

   

Spring Cleaning

FINALLY!!  That white stuff is starting to disappear from this northern Maine woods local.  There are still a few areas where the sun doesn't always hit by the treeline that the snow clings to, but thankfully it looks like Spring is here to stay!! *knock on wood*  That being said...I have been grossly negligent in my blog writing...in studio production.. in quite a few things actually.  I've been preoccupied with medical appointments, disappointing and infuriating doctors, house hunting, disappointment from said house hunting, and of course that strange yellow thing high up in the sky.  The last several days, I've been outside as much as possible, soaking up some vitamin D...neglecting the raw clay in my studio that has been calling out my name.  "Shaaaaawna....cooooome baaaaack"  The more I procrastinate, the longer my to do list gets, the more daunting and overwhelming it seems, and the less I want to do any of it!  AHHHHH  The never ending cycle, right?  haha

So what do YOU do to counteract spring/cabin fever?  How do you motivate yourself to get up and get goin' when it's gorgeous outside?

Looking forward to this, this spring/summer!!!

Darting - The Ceramic Way (tutorial)

Good evening one and all!  I hope you are doing well!  My sleep schedule is all flipped around and I'm up at night while the rest of the US is sleeping (unless of course you're working night shift...).  So last night, I made my first ever video tutorial!  I have been experimenting with darting at the foot/bottom of a ceramic mug and really love the form I've been able to create. I thought I would share with you the video that I published on YouTube for this tutorial. 

Sunday Ceramic - III

Good evening to all!  It's Ceramic Sunday!  It's been a productive week thankfully.  Rather than tell ya what I've been up to...I thought I'd show ya in pictures.  Hope you enjoy!

The Dangers of Manganese...

Good evening to all!  I was talking to a potter friend of mine a few days ago about manganese.  I have a manganese wash I was considering using on a few pieces.  She warned me to be very cognizant of the safety precautions I needed to take while handling it...At first I thought she might be over reacting slightly...but then I got my edition of the Clay Times magazine..and guess what it had in it?!?  A 2 page article on the danger and new OSHA standards regarding manganese!

2014 Goals - 2 down, 12 to go!!

At the beginning of the year, I created a page for my 2014 Business Goals, to not only help me keep track of the goals I set for myself; but also so ya'll can help keep me accountable.  One way to almost always achieve your goals, regardless of what they are, is to share it with loved ones, friends, and/or the public.  Once you've put anything out there for the public to see...there is an innate pressure to uphold your end of the bargain.

Making Paper Clay

There are several ceramic artists who I love to admire from afar.  One of my FAVORITES, is Merry ArtToones. She is an AMAZING sculptor!  We have a virtual/Facebook relationship and she has always been willing to help me out and answer any questions I have.  Well, I found out that she uses paper clay for her sculptures. Turns out paper clay is just as strong as your typical clay, but weighs less. With sculptures, and even wall murals/hangings, weight can play a very important part in the finished product.  
DISCLOSURE --  Before we get started, I thought it might be worth noting that paper clay...and paper mache...are two VERY different animals...

Dreams, Goals, Ambitions

Hubby and I just got done having a conversation that is rather thought provoking. He asked me what my goals were with my business. Well to make money of course was the first joking remark. But in all actuality...I want to completely move over to sculpting. Still make some of the small odds and ends when I need a break..and they make GREAT kiln fillers so there's no wasted space...but I want to sculpt. I want my sculptures to have meaning and for those messages to be embraced by the world. I want the message that my sculptures emote to be known throughout the world. Quite a lofty goal, no? But that's me...dream big! I know it won't happen over night. And it may not happen in the next 10 years. But by golly...It WILL happen. :)

Sunday Ceramics 1 - The Blogging Clay Community

Thanks to a clay acquaintance on Facebook, I stumbled across this awesome blog by Frogpondsrock, called Ceramic Sunday.  It's a way for us solitary potters and ceramic artists/sculptors to unite and get some of our "socializing" in.  It's a way to build a community that knows no boundaries. I decided to take the plunge and join in on the fun!

Cleaning Mr. Peter Pugger - Part II

Good evening (It's Tuesday evening, as I sit here typing this up.. :) )! Hope ya'll are doing well!  So guess what....I DID IT!!!  I am soo proud of myself!  I completely disassembled, cleaned, and reassembled my pugmill!  Those that have been following me for a bit know what an AWESOME accomplishment this is, especially considering all the health hurdles I traverse daily.  :)  But *pat on the back* for me!  :-D  I didn't get it spotless, like Scott and Angie did when they cleaned their Shimpo Pugmill.  BUT, I got it clean enough for my purposes.  I want to make my own batch of paper clay (which, do you have any idea how hard it is to find a tutorial on how to make your own paperclay, that actually provides accurate ratios of paper pulp to clay?!?)!  Good thing I plan on writing about THAT too..hehe

Cleaning My Pugmill - Part I

Have you ever cleaned a pugmill?  I hadn't..until tonight.   I can now see why potters will pick a single type/color of clay to work with.  I have a dark brown clay, a speckled buff clay, and a white clay that I work with.  What can I say, I liked diversity...  But I'm finding out it can be a pain in the ass when it comes to wanting to reclaim my scrap clay using my Peter Pugger Pugmill.  Currently, I have a mixture of clay scraps that I've been reclaiming in my pugmill. It's roughly 50/50 of the white stoneware and the buff speckled clay.  BUT...I want to start working more on my sculptures, and through research, have found that paperclay might work best for me.  So I'm going to make some (another blog post to come, detailing that process...so stay tuned!).  But in order to get ready to make said paperclay...I need to clean out the pugmill so I can get all the colored clay out of the hopper, so I can mix some white paperclay.  :)  

Intuit Marketing Contest

I know it's been a while...my health has been kicking my ass.  Sitting here with my TENS unit on, my back is finally starting to feel better, and I just might be able to get my hands in clay before I fall asleep tonight. :)

While I've been sitting here, I found and entered a contest Intuit is having.  It's to win a $5,000 marketing package.  It would help get my name out there and hopefully grow my business.  I would LOVE your support!  If you would be willing to take five minutes to vote for my shop, and spread the word along to your networks, I would GREATLY appreciate it my friends! 

Here is the link:

https://sblb.intuit.com/me/JSB-Arts/5890/us

http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/

NOT disabled....DIFFERENTLY-abled!

When I first got sick, in 2010...I was bumming.  I was heart broken, and continue to be blindsided as my health continues to decline.  It all started with seizures in April 2010...followed by cognitive decline... memory and concentration issues... tremors/ticks... weakness and numbness in my left arm/hand... severe leg pain and weakness ... and last but not least... urinary incontinence.  I think that's it... haha  OH!  Yea...forgot the PTSD...All of this has occurred in the last 3 years...For a while, I let myself feel sorry for myself.  I can't run around with my munchkin-boy anymore.  I can't go for a hike through the woods with my husband.  I have been unable to complete a college degree/further education.  There's a LOT of things I CAN'T do...It's been in the last year with the support of my hubby and the innocent wisdom of my son, that my mind set has changed.  I used to send a thank you note with my Etsy orders, as well as have it printed on my business cards; "Thank you for supporting a disabled veteran's business".  Yes... all of these physical, psychological, and physiological issues have created boundaries and limitations...  But they've also showcased my strengths and other abilities I never knew I had.